A chant for inner movement.
“Asato Ma” is an ancient contemplative chant (about 2,500 years old!) that asks to be guided from confusion into clarity and from fear into awareness. It is valued for its simplicity and depth.
I’m sounding this chant on a harmonium — a smallish hand-pumped instrument whose steady tone supports slow, meditative singing.
There are many ways this ancient chant is voiced. The version I share here was learned from Rob and Melissa, Kirtan leaders based in Seattle.
A gentle way to chant Asato Ma
This approach is for inward experience rather than sound quality. The aim is simply to feel the vibration and energy of the words.
You only need a willingness to listen and feel while you sound.
If you’d like to join in:
1) Settle into yourself. Feel the contact points with whatever is supporting you. Exhale slowly and intentionally.
2) Begin with a soft hum and notice where you feel the vibration.
3) Chant slowly with inward bodily awareness.
4) Let silence follow. Often the most meaningful part happens after the sound.
May we be guided, quietly, toward what is true.
A recording of the chant:
Below are the words, pronunciation, translation, and notes of the chant:
The Words of the Chant
Original Sanskrit
asato mā sad gamaya
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya
Pronunciation (simple phonetic)
Ah-suh-toh maa sud guh-muh-yuh
tuh-muh-soh maa jyo-teer guh-muh-yuh
mrit-yor maa uh-mri-tum guh-muh-yuh
Meaning (literal translation)
Line by line:
asato mā sad gamaya
→ Lead me from the unreal to the real
tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
→ Lead me from darkness to light
mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya
→ Lead me from death to immortality
(also expressed as: from mortality to the eternal, or from fear of death to the awareness of what does not die)
Note on the closing mantra
In the version I learned, the chant concludes with:
Om Shanti Shanti Om
Shanti means peace and it acts as a gentle settling after the movement of the prayer.
The Om at the beginning and end creates a sense of wholeness and completion.
Many are drawn to this chant because of its universal message —
clarity, understanding, and peace.
At its heart, it is a simple request for truth.
May we all come just a little bit closer to that now.